Written by Nyasha Museruka
During this 16days of activism (25th November- 10th December) ,and throughout the 2019, I have been reflecting on the abuse that women go through… I mean all women in their diversity!. Why does violence against women and girls have to so normalized in society? I thought at some point that was the qualification for one to be accepted in society…… As a young woman with aspirations, goals dreams, hopes and visions, I am all too clear on how this normalization gets seeded at a tender age. It all starts ‘playing house’, a rite of passage harmlessly girls must go through. Then it goes to imitating our mothers, wearing their oversized dresses and shoes, taking certain roles and professions (often less paid and care giving kind). I didn’t know that these roles and professions may come up with a huge prize to pay—psychological, physical, emotional, sexual, verbal abuse, only to mention some. Mainly women suffer the consequences of GBV at workplaces. That is where one is told you can’t do this job because you are a woman and to add salt to the wound with a disability. Verbal and emotional abuse happens every day at workplaces, if I complain that I can’t do this work, my colleagues or superiors will ask you “Why are you here? Better stay at home and do what women were created for”. When people see a woman with a disability, they see what she cannot do first not the other way around.
At a middle stage in my life I developed a spine condition called spinal scoliosis. This saw some of the dreams and aspirations I had shattered! The condition limited me to do the job of my dreams (hence ending up pursuing another profession. Growing up I wanted to be a policewoman, but I ended up being a teacher because my physical stature did not meet the requirements of one joining the police force. I couldn’t run or do the training due to my condition. Despite joining other profession, it was not all rosy. I have had to deal with all forms of violence, having a disability has paved an easier way for the perpetrators. You will be told it is a privilege to get a job as a woman with a disability to get a job, so you have to return the favour by paying “in kind” or lose the job.
This is when I realized it’s a tough world, being victimized because you are a woman and double tragedy because you are a woman with a disability. One fellow woman told me that even if you get the job it would be a window dressing, you are not supposed to participate meaningfully because you got a job whilst being disabled. You will be their glory but not for your expertise. The tokenism is suffocating!!
Violence against women and girls at the workplace has been so casually accepted as normal! I am here to confirm that being disabled and young triples the ordeal. With all the myths surrounding disabilities the perpetrators go unnoticed and no one reports the cases. This needs to stop immediately! We need to have a world where women and girls are safe and free from violence at workplaces. Women have a right and should be able to access equal opportunities to realize their full potential regardless of their differences. I have potential, skills and expertise to offer at my workplace, so let it be safe! I have chosen to make lemonade out of the lemons thrown at me. But not every woman has been able to and women and girls should not always resort to making lemonades out of lemons!!
I’m grateful to organizations of women and for women who has awakened the activist and the fighting spirit in me to rise up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Violence against women and girls at workplaces has to stop. I know what I want is a JOB not SEX for a job.
Here’s my cents for how to make workplaces safe for women with disabilities…
– See the person first before the disability. Focus on what I have to offer rather than what I cannot do.
– Give women spaces and opportunities to prove themselves. One cannot prove she is capable by being abused to obtain a job.
– Working policies that protects women’s interests and rights at workplaces should be put in place.
Ms. Nyasha Museruka is part of the ATHENA Network as the #WhatGirlsWant Country focal point for Zimbabwe. Nyasha is a passionate gender/SRHR/disability activist. Nyasha is a teacher by profession. She has been into the journey of advocacy since 2012 up to date. She has been in many forums like ICASA, ICPD and SARSYC representing young women with disabilities as well as AGYW at large.